Boat



June 1, 1937. s. FRANKFUR'T BOAT Filed Sept. 26, 1956' ATTORNEY.

Patented June 1, 1937 UNITED ST 2 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a novel boat, and the principal object is to provide for the elimination of rocking or pitching in any type of sea vessel regardless of size or use. For example, the invention is applicable to ocean going vessels as well as small cruisers and to speed boats, cargo vessels, pleasure craft'and the like. Another object is to provide a comfortable vessel of comparatively small size adapted for ocean travel.

In the accomplishment of these objects, the hull of the vessel is separate from the hold or body. and. the latter is surrounded by a number of alined and freely rotatable shell sections. The sections extend along nearly the entire length of the vessel and, being provided with fins, absorb the action of the waves without transmitting it to the remainder of the vessel. The fins, moreover, are preferably helical and therefore encounter the waves at one point or another, regardless of the height of any particular wave.

The separate shell sections are individually and independently rotatable and thereby respond freely to unequal heights of waves along different parts of the vessel.

The lower part of the non-rotatable hull, which is in the nature of a keel, is preferably made comparatively heavy in order to serve as a ballast.

The forward and stern ends of the hull are hollow and equipped with stairways for access to the body. One of these ends, preferably the forward end, contains a motor that is geared to a propeller at the stern. Provision is made in the body for containing fuel, oil, water and other necessities.

The invention is fully disclosed by Way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the vessel;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a detail of a modification.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The hull of the vessel is designated generally by the numeral I and includes a longitudinal bottom member 2 in the nature of a keel and upstanding end parts 3 and 5. The latter provide a substantial space between them for the insertion of a body or a hold 5 for containing the passengers or cargo. The parts 2, 3 and 4 are a unitary structure constituting the hull, and the hold 5 is secured to the parts 3 and 4 by any suitable means. For example, the parts 3 and 4 may contain uprights 6 to which the ends of the body 5 are secured by fastening members 1. It will also be seen that the bottom of the body 5 is spaced slightly from the keel member 2 for a purpose that will presently be described.

The body 5 is of circular cross-section throughout and preferably tapered at its ends at 8 to contribute a streamline design. On the outer surface of the body are secured circular. series of channel brackets 9 for carrying roller bearings ii]. On the bearings are mounted a plurality of alined shell sections H, i2 and 53. These may be provided in any desired number, but preferably at least three for convenient assembly respectively on the tapered ends and the intermediate portion of the body 5. If the body is comparatively long, it would be desirable to-provide more than one section between the ends. The sections overlap one another at M andare provided with water seals l5 at the overlapping parts and also at the outer extremities of the end sections where en-. gaging the members 3 and l. 1

Each shell section is provided with one or more fins l6, preferably following a helical path, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The fins extend outwardly from the sections and are of such size as to pass freely through the above mentioned space between the keel member 2 and the body 5 on rotation of the shell sections. However, if desired, the fins may extend parallel to the common axis of the shell sections '5', as indicated by the numeral H5 in Figure 3.

The advantage of the helical fins is that at least one point thereof will immediately encounter a wave at any height and react to the motion of the wave as its height changes. The adjacent shell sections may be locked to one another by the means shown in Figure 3. At the overlapping parts of the shell sections, a bolt l l is screwed into the innermost section. The outer section at the overlap is formed with one or more holes I8 adapted to receive the bolt when the latter is turned. One such hole is provided at a point that will bring the fins of adjacent sections into continuation of each other when receiving the bolt. The bolt has a socket head l9 that may be reached with a suitable turning tool from the interior of the body 5 on removal of a screw plug from the wall of the latter. The plugs for the several bolts I! may be provided at any desired level in the body, or a series of plugs may be provided for each bolt. The hole 18 that brings the fins into alignment may be marked with an index or symbol visible on removal of the plug. The plug leaves an opening large enough to permit the operator to watch the rotary path of the bolt ll,

until he can insert the tool, and also to watch the openings I3 until one of them lines up with the bolt. For the latter purpose, the openings may be indicated or indexed beyond the overlapping shell part that covers them.

As shown in Figure 1, the end portions 3 and 4 are rounded, the former being preferably somewhat pointed for the purpose of streamlining the vessel. Each section has a stairway 2| leading from the top thereof and providing access to an entrance 22 in the adjacent end of the body 5. If the stairways lead only to the horizontal axial plane of the body, as illustrated, a ladder 23 may be mounted in the body at the end of each stairway. The openings in the ends 3 and 4 leading to the stairways are closed'by suitably shaped doors at 24 which, when closed, do not alter the.

smooth contour of these ends.

Inasmuch as the body is of circular cross-section throughout, it is preferable to build a floor 25 therein. This construction leaves a space 26 beneath the floor, which is divided by walls 21 into compartments 28 for containing fuel, oil, water, food and other necessities. This part of the body is ordinarily submerged, whereby food is maintained at a suitable temperature for preservation, and undue expansion of the fuel is avoided.

The keel member 2 tapers downward to a point and is solid or weighted, at least in parts, as indicated by the numeral 29 to provide a ballast.

The motor 30, which may burn gasoline or oil, is preferably mounted in the forward end of section 3. The propeller 3| is mounted in an opening 32 formed in the stern end of the hull I and has a shaft 33 journaled in bearings 34 in the keel member 2. The drive shaft 35 extending from the motor is geared at 36 to the propeller shaft; In the stern end of the body I is another opening 3'! for receiving the rudder 38. The motor 30 and the rudder 38 are controlled by any suitable devices within the body 5 or in the end member 3. Such devices are well-known and need not be illustrated.

The end sections 3 and 4 are equipped with windows 39 throtgh which daylight is admitted to the body 5 when the doors 4!] of the openings 32 are raised. However, conventional means forartificial lighting and illumination may be! provided, as well as a periscope for navigation.

Due to the streamline shape of the vessel and its freedom from rolling and pitching, a comparatively small craft built as herein described may safely cross the ocean and at high speed.

. However, the invention is not limited to small craft and may be applied to vessels of any desired capacity, with all the advantages herein described.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is: V

1., A .boat comprising a hull, a body secured therein, said body being of circular cross-section, rollers mounted 'on the outer wall of said body in circular series, and independently freely rotatable shell sections mounted on said rollers, and means for locking said sections together independentlyof said body.

2. A boat comprising a hull, a body secured therein, said body being of circular cross-section, rollers mounted on the outer wall of said body in circular series, and independently freely rotatable shell sections mounted on said rollers, and fins extending outwardly from said sections, and means for locking said sections together, independently of said body with the fins of adjacent sections in alignment with each other.

SAMUEL FRANKFURT. 

